Wrapped in roses

Ardith Starostka · 06-10-2004, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the kind comments. I started second-guessing the roses being wrapped around her after I heard someone say that they thought the pose was too contrived. But I liked them and that's why I put them in--I thought that they added to the painting.

Ardith

Cynthia Daniel · 06-10-2004, 06:28 PM

Thanks for posting this, Ardie. Having seen it in real life, I can tell eveyone that it's even more beautiful in person.

Garth Herrick · 06-10-2004, 11:20 PM

Ardith,

This is one of the loveliest portraits I have ever seen and is masterful in every respect. You deserve all the attention this is generating, and all Forum artists benefit and grow by your sharing of this masterpiece.

Congratulations,
Garth

Michele Rushworth · 06-10-2004, 11:38 PM

Masterful and very creative! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Heidi Maiers · 06-11-2004, 12:50 AM

This portrait would have been wonderful without the roses, but with them, it is magnificent. Simply breathtaking.

Linda Brandon · 06-11-2004, 01:29 AM

Ardith, can you post closeups? And can you tell us about your working methods and your palette colors?

Mary Sparrow · 06-11-2004, 07:35 AM

All I can say about this is...WOW! I LOVE THIS.

Matthew Severson · 06-11-2004, 08:22 AM

GOOD GOD! This is amazing! But personally I think a this painting deserves a more.. elegant title.

Sharon Knettell · 06-14-2004, 02:18 PM

Just lovely, Ardith

After seeing this and the other entries in Boston, what I can't understand is how that ugly black thing beat this?

Ardith Starostka · 06-14-2004, 04:14 PM

Sharon,

What do you mean "ugly black thing"--please explain??? I was disappointed that I got an Honorable mention but I guess it was an honor just to have made it to the finals. I think this is the best oil I've done so far and I had great hopes for it. I would love to hear what the judges said! It would be nice if the PSA judges would jot down a few notes on each piece as they're judging and let each artist know what remarks were made about each piece. That could really help.

Allan,

I tone my canvas with thin burnt umber. I draw in thinned burnt umber directly on the canvas. I work from dark to light blocking in the darkest values, middle values and then light values. I just keep repainting each layer until I have achieved the opacity, correct values and colors that I am wanting. It usually takes three to four layers to correct all of my mistakes! I spray retouch varnish in between layers if my paint starts to look sunken in. That's about it in a nutshell...

Ardith